May 2020 V1

Level Test and Level Test (3-Skills)

Product Overview & Best Practices for

Instructors and Administrators

Contents

About

• About the Level Test and Level Test (3 Skills)

Reports and Results• Group Report

• Individual Report• Test Results

Best Practices for Successful Implementation• Guide to Best Practices• Prepare a Suitable Test Room

• Plan the Test Day• Prepare Test-Takers: Sample Tests

• Prepare Test-Takers: Instructions• Monitoring Tests, Reviewing Results

User Journeys

• Institution Administrator’s Journey• New Test-Taker’s Journey• Existing Test-Taker’s Journey

FAQs

Help & Support

About the

Level Test

and

Level Test (3 Skills)

Welcome and thank you for choosing Pearson English Level Test.

This guide provides a description of the test and how to get the best

results for teaching and learning.

Level Test provides educators with a fast, reliable way to place students in

English language classes based on their ability, to give them the best start

to their learning journey. Two versions are available:

• Level Test: assesses Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking in 30

minutes

• Level Test (3 Skills): assesses Reading, Writing and Listening in 20

minutes

It is an adaptive test that uses a range of question types to assess

everyday English. Many questions test integrated skills (e.g. listening and

writing) to provide reliable results, based on the skills tested, in the

shortest time. Autoscored by Pearson’s advanced AI, it returns consistent

results in minutes. Details about the test structure, question types, and

auto marking are given in the Level Test Validation and Specification

Report. Best practice should be followed to get the best results from the

test.

Use Level Test before choosing a course and use with Pearson

English Benchmark Test to measure ongoing progress.

About Level Test and Level Test (3 Skills)

Key Facts

• For learners age 14 years and older

• Tests everyday English

• One test covers the full CEFR (A1 to C2) and Global

Scale of English General (10-90) scale

• Taken and managed online (PC)

• Results available in minutes

• Provides a CEFR half band and GSE range plus high

level performance summaries for each student

• Group reports support streaming students into

classes

• Can be taken at home or on site

ABOUT THE LEVEL TEST AND LEVEL TEST (3 SKILLS)

Find more information about Pearson English assessments

at english.com/assessment, and more about the Global

Scale of English at english.com/gse.

Level Test

Reports and Results

Group ReportREPORTS & RESULTS

The Level Test provides reports for groups of test-takers and

for individuals. The group report supports streaming by providing an overview of the intake's abilities.

The group report provides a density map to show

how abilities are distributed across a test group.

The score summary chart shows the number of

students within a CEFR half band. You can click on "See Students" to view information about the test-takers in each band.

Group Report cont.After clicking on "See Students" link on the first group

report screen, you will see information about test-takers within the selected CEFR half band.

The student list uses symbols to show whether a

student's ability for each skill are At, Below or Above the overall level. Click on the icon in the last column to view an individual student report.

The top of report shows which CEFR half band

has been selected.

REPORTS & RESULTS

Individual ReportABOUT LEVEL TEST AND LEVEL TEST (3 SKILLS)

The individual report offers insight into a student's overall proficiency plus their

ability by skill so you can learn about their needs before lessons begin.

Test details:

Student name, test taken, test date and institution’s name.

Current capabilities:

A summary of student's overall performance, it

provides can-do statements about a student.

Overall Score:

Presents student's CEFR scale and GSE range score

Diagnostic Chart:

Shows student's score against CEFR scale and GSE range

REPORTS & RESULTS

Individual Report cont.REPORTS & RESULTS

Performance Summary:

Describes the student’s performance relative to the performance descriptors at the relevant level and skill in the GSE

assessment framework.

Level Indicator:

Abilities may vary across the skills, here you can find out how your student performed in each part of the test

Not Scorable:

If speaking could not be scored, you will see advisory notices.

The Level Test assesses the student's proficiency in each skill to report an overall CEFR half band plus the GSE range for that

band. The individual reports also provide a high-level view of proficiency for the core skills.

When learning a new language, it is not unusual for abilities to vary across the skills, so the Level Test reports use icons, shown

below, to indicate proficiency. These are accompanied by performance summaries (described in the previous pages).

Test Results

At Level. The student scored within the level of the CEFR half band and GSE range shown.

Above Level. The student's proficiency for this skill is higher that than the CEFR half band and GSE range shown.

Below Level. The student's performance for this skill is below the level of their overall CEFR half band.

Not Scorable. It was not possible to provide a score, therefore one of the advisory notices is provided.• Environmental or behavioural factors meant we could not score responses. Factors can include background noise, problems

with headsets or computers, answers were too quiet or not intelligible.

• A large number of questions were not answered so a score cannot be given. Please encourage students to answer all questions.

NS

REPORTS & RESULTS

Best Practices

for Successful

Implementation

To get the best results from the Level Test and ensure tests can be

scored, schools and students must follow best practice guidelines described in the following pages.

1. Make sure your equipment and headsets meet the system requirements (check our help site or Test Hub Guide)

2. Prepare a suitable test room

3. Plan the test day

4. Prepare test-takers

5. Monitor the test

6. Review results

Guide to Best Practices

BEST PRACTICES

Tests must be administered in a quiet, distraction-free room to help

students focus.

If using the all-skills version of the Level Test, the test environment

is especially important. Excess noise, or the sound of teachers’ and other students’ voices will spoil recorded answers so they cannot

be accurately scored.*

To prevent this, students must sit 10ft/3m apart in each direction

(minimum distance of 6ft/2m). Desktop privacy partitions will also reduce distractions.

Avoid gyms, halls, and rooms with hard floors or high ceilings as they can cause echoes which can reduce the clarity of recorded

answers. Keep windows closed if there is loud traffic or building work next to the classroom.

Ideally, students should be tested in small groups to avoid noise interference and distractions, and to make it easier for teachers to

provide them support.

*Indicated by an NS score in reports.

Prepare a Suitable Test RoomBEST PRACTICES

If testing on site, leave enough time for test-takers to settle in the

room, listen to your instructions, log in and take the test. If studentshave not had an opportunity to take the sample test, that should beincluded (see the table for time reference).

Try to avoid testing when test-takers may be interrupted (for

example by school bells or people coming into the test room). Aswell as disturbing their concentration, it can increase noiselevels reducing the ability to score recorded spoken answers.

You can print test invites in advance to hand out or send them by

email. Please note that when students receive their first test invite,they will need to set up an account.

If students take the Level Test at home, make sure they know whatequipment is needed to and how to access the test. Test-takers

should also be informed about factors that might influence theirscores, e.g. excess noise, long pauses, skipping questions, etc.

From time to time, it may be necessary to take Test Hub offline torelease new features or for scheduled maintenance. Please check

our dedicated help site for information about downtimes whenplanning sessions.

Plan the Test Day

Test Type Approx. duration

Level Test 30 mins

Sample Level Test 12 mins

Level Test (3 Skills) 20 mins

Sample Level Test (3 Skills) 8 mins

BEST PRACTICES

Prepare Test-Takers: Sample Tests

Test-takers will perform better during real tests if they

are familiar with the question types, how to respond, and wearing a headset (only during the all-skills Level Test). They can practise using the unscored sample tests

that are assigned alongside the full test.

The sample test contains examples of all the question types from the scored version of test. Ideally, it should be taken with instructors a few days before the real test

to reduce test anxiety and give students time to ask questions about how to answer. It can be used an

unlimited number of times before the real test is taken.

Each test starts with an equipment check. It is advisable

to do this in advance to ensure the web browser has access to the microphone (if all-skills Level Test was

assigned).

BEST PRACTICES

Instructions are given throughout, however, test-takers should be informed about the following before they begin each

test.

• This is an adaptive test designed to make sure you are put on the right course. The difficulty of each question changesbased on your previous answers, so you won't all receive the same questions. Do not be discouraged if questions get harder.

There is no pass or fail mark so keep trying.

• Do not close the test down until you finish.

• You cannot return to questions later. The backwards and forwards browser buttons will not work. If you click on them bymistake and receive a “Conflict ID error” message, refresh your screen to return to the question.

• Avoid repeatedly clicking the same button, e.g. “Next”. If there doesn't seem to be a response after clicking a button, refresh

the page.

• If the test freezes for any reason, try refreshing the page.

• When you finish the tests, make sure you click on “Finish” so your answers are submitted and scored.

Level Test (all-skills) instructions

• Microphones must be positioned correctly - not too close or too far away from your mouth.

• Speak clearly, at a normal volume and speed, as if speaking on a phone. Do not touch or breathe into the microphone as it

will make it difficult to detect your voice and give you a score.

• The test is designed to detect periods of silence and may close a question early if you do not appear to be participating.

Prepare Test-Takers: InstructionsBEST PRACTICES

Monitoring Tests, Reviewing Results

Monitoring tests

Administrators can view the status of the tests on Test Hub. They can see when the test has been started, is in progress and has been scored whether the test has been taken on site

or remotely.

Reviewing resultsAnswers are automatically sent to Pearson for marking when

tests are submitted by test-takers. Results are usually available in minutes, however, there may be occasions when

it takes longer (e.g. peak testing periods). Instructors can access test results on the Test Hub portal (instructions are provided on the help pages).

BEST PRACTICES

User Journeys

Institution admins use Test Hub to manage staff, assign tests and monitor students’ progress, and view licenses. A

detailed guide on each step is provided on the Test Hub help site.

Institution Administrator’s JourneyUSER JOURNEYS

Log into Test Hub

as Admin

Manage the

Institutions

Assign

Tests

Group

Test-Takers

View

Reports

Admins can add other

staff members to their institution by sending

out email invitations.

They can also use their

accounts to monitor licenses and check when

the expiry date is

approaching.

Institution admins are

invited to manage an institution by email. One

admin can be invited

into many institutions.

Institution admins can assign

tests to new and existing test-takers.

New test-takers will receive an invite with joining

instructions for that institution. Institutions can

track the redemptions of

those invites. Once redeemed, the institution

can view the scores and assign further tests.

Admins can divide test-

takers into groups to aid reporting before or

after tests are taken. It

is not essential to group test-takers. It is possible

to search for them, for example by a test they

have taken or the date

on which the test was due.

Institution admins can

monitor the status of the assigned tests and

generate detailed reports

for groups and individuals. They can generate reports

for multiple groups if they wish.

Reports can be manually

shared with students. Online sharing will be

available from summer 2020.

New test-takers will be invited to sign into Test Hubwhen their first test is

assigned. A detailed guide is provided on the Test Hub help site.

New Test-Taker’s JourneyUSER JOURNEYS

Receive an

invitation

Log into Test

Hub

Launch the

Test

Check Test

Status

Test-takers will be asked to

sign into Test Hub with their existing Pearson

credentials or by creating a

new account. If they have an account on Pearson

English Portal, they can use this account.

Test-takers need an

invitation to take the test. It can be received

via email or in a printed

form.

Once logged in, the test-

takers will see the assigned test on their Dashboard.

They will also receive a

Sample Test that can be launched multiple times to

practice before the real test.

Test-takers will see

whether their test has been completed or

scored on their

Dashboard. Detailed score reports can be

obtained from an institution admin.

Administrators will be

able to share results with test-takers if they

choose to, from summer 2020.

Existing test-takers can access tests from their dashboard in Test

Hub. A detailed guide is provided on the Test Hub help site.

Existing Test-Taker’s JourneyUSER JOURNEYS

Log into Test

Hub

Launch the

TestCheck Test

Status

Test-takers will be asked to

sign into Test Hub with their existing Pearson

credentials. If they have an

account on Pearson English Portal, they can use

this account.

Level Test is accessed from

their Dashboard. Test-takers will receive a Sample Test

that they can use to practice

as many times as they like before they take the real

test.

Test-takers will see

whether their test has been completed or

scored. Detailed score

reports can be obtained from an institution

admin.Administrators will be

able to share results

with test-takers if they choose to, from

summer 2020.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Question: Can I take the test on a mobile phone or a tablet?

Answer: No. The Level Test is designed to be taken on PC with a stable internet connection throughout the whole test.

Question: What should I do if I run out of tests?

Answer: If you run out of tests, please contact your local Pearson representative to order more.

Question: Can test-takers see their results?

Answer: New functions are being added to Test Hub during 2020. Administrators will be able to choose to share results with students from summer 2020.

Question: Why did I get ‘NS’ instead of a score in my report?

Answer: The label NS (not scorable) appears when the student’s responses cannot be given a score which reliably reflects their proficiency. This generally happens if the test-taker skipped too many questions or their spoken answers were affected by background noise, a faulty microphone, a student not speaking intelligibly or speaking in a language other than English. In such situations the

advisory notices are provided. Following best practice and reviewing the test conditions should eliminate NS scores. Please speak to your Pearson representative if you would like to discuss the results.

Question: When should I test my students?

Answer: The Level Test should be assigned to the students at the beginning of their English studying. It helps teachers to evaluate the level of student's knowledge and hence assign students to the correct groups.

FAQs

Need Support?

We are here to help you.

Visit our Test Hub Help site to access knowledge-based

articles and downloadable materials.

mypearsonhelp.com/testhub

Pearson is committed to providing the best

technical support possible.